I did save about $400 shipping cost by picking my wheels up at Tom’s place in Indiana. I’m about 120 miles from him but I enjoyed the drive and the money I saved got ear marked for future Avanti parts.
I doubt they ever wanted to sell a lot of Avantis as it was more of a ploy to get people to change their perception of Studebaker and get customers into the show room. I think the Avanti was an expensive build for the company and the only way it could make a profit was to load the car up with options. So maybe s sedate version marketed to the wife or single woman may have worked. You have to remember though that back in 1963 a wife with family needed a four door and most women’s role in life was to raise a family not look cool in the work force.
Interesting. Might be fun to try one on a Lark. Kick down would be an easy install but I guess you would need to plug the pressure limiting or over rev control hole.